How a Delhi hotel management graduate duped Amazon of Rs 50 lakh

NEW DELHI: Often buyers from online retailers complain of receiving boxes filled with scrap instead of the ordered items. In genuine cases, the retailers refund the buyers. A 21-year-old Delhiite, Shivam Chopra, turned this policy into 'business'.

He ordered 166 premium smartphones from Amazon from different phone numbers and a fake address. When delivery boys failed to locate him, he guided them to some nearby location to take delivery. Later, he would complain to Amazon that he had received an empty box and claimed a refund. He used to sell the phones on OLX or in Gaffar flea market.

When Amazon realised it was being deceived, it approached Delhi Police. After a few months of investigation, the police zeroed in on Chopra. They have seized 19 mobile phones, Rs 12 lakh cash and 40 bank passbooks and cheque books from him. The police has also arrested a shopkeeper who used to supply him pre-activated SIM cards for Rs 150 each.

Chopra has done a hotel management course from a Delhi-based institute.